EXTRA-PAROCHIAL SERVICES.
It was while visiting the people in the neighbourhood of the German Mills, in August, 1841, that their state of spiritual destitution was impressed upon Mr. Mortimer’s mind, and he immediately determined upon trying to do something for them. As he had then no Sunday duty to perform, and, at the same time, was partially recovered from his nervous attack, he made up his mind to attempt a Sunday service there himself, and immediately began to inquire if any room could be found for the purpose. A farmer, whose house was very conveniently situated, on being applied to, willingly consented to secure the use of a room in his own house, without any charge, for the remaining term of his lease, five-and-a-half years; nor would he at any time accept any remuneration for the expense and trouble which he incurred by the service being held in his house; and both himself and his wife were ever ready to do all in their power to promote the comfort of their minister, and of those who were engaged in the Sunday school, which was also held in the room used for Divine service. Their generous conduct much pleased Mr. Mortimer, who often said, that they would never suffer for “sheltering the ark of God,” but that, on the contrary, he felt sure that as the “Lord blessed the house of Obededom,” so He would bless them and their family. The room being then in an unfinished state, Mr. Mortimer agreed to have it prepared for Divine worship at his own expense, the fitting up consisting simply of a desk and benches. On the 5th of the following month, September, the service was performed in this room for the first time. Mr. Mortimer was much surprised, and greatly encouraged by the largeness of the congregation, many being unable to find seats, and standing in the entrance. Before the following Sunday the room was furnished with additional benches, which, altogether, was considered sufficient to seat a hundred persons. On that day also, there was a large congregation, as appears from a memorandum in Mr. Mortimer’s handwriting; “The room quite filled, and overflowing.” As he himself expected, however, after a time, the novelty wore off, and the congregation decreased, leaving an average of about seventy attendants; but even this number he thought a large congregation, considering the scattered state of the population. He always felt a peculiar interest in this station, which he styled, “the nursling of his old age.” The congregation always appeared grateful for the establishment of the service there, which they evinced by the willingness with which they subscribed to the “Church Society,” when called upon to do so. Though this place is not more than three-and-a-half miles from Thornhill Church, it is believed, that not more than one person during their residence there ever attended the church service, until it was held at the German Mills. The settlement derives its name from the circumstance of the surrounding country having been settled chiefly by Germans many years since; at which time there were mills close to the house in which the service is now held. These mills have been long since in ruins, having never been repaired, owing, it is said, to some superstition connected with the history of them. There are now scarcely more than two dozen houses within a circuit of half-a-mile from the ruins of the mills. The other dwellings are scattered on the different surrounding farms.
On the 10th October, in the same year, a Sunday School was begun in connexion with the Church, which was well attended, having from forty to sixty attendants. At the time the Church service was established at the German Mills, there was no Sunday service there of any description. The Methodists had previously attempted to establish prayer and other meetings, but had then no service of any kind: as soon, however, as the Church service was commenced, Mr. Mortimer was informed that they had again opened a meeting at a house close by, apparently for the sake of opposition, but of which he took not the slightest notice: it was shortly afterwards given up, though in a little time re-commenced.
In the same manner, when he was informed that the editor of the Christian Guardian, a Methodist paper, had written against him, he would not even look at the paper, observing, that “it matters but little what people said of him.” He considered it the wisest plan to let opposition die away. By some he was called a Puseyite, by others a low Churchman; but his own aim was to be “a consistent Churchman.” What he considered one breach of consistency is mentioned in his pastoral letter to his parishioners at Thornhill; viz., attending other places of worship: another was contributing towards the support or encouragement of Dissent, which he invariably declined doing from conscientious motives.